Cowtown Challenge Weekend

This post-race margarita that's big as my head proves that everything is bigger in Texas

It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve written a race report. I guess that’s because it’s been a while since I last ran a race. Luckily my schedule is about to kick into high gear – hopefully that means that I’ll be a bit more motivated to train properly...fingers crossed!

Last Friday Ashley and I hopped on a plane headed to Fort Worth. The flight was great, thanks to an awesome Southwest flight attendant who kept the vodka coming, even though we didn’t ask for more than the first round. I swear I could feel my mood improve as soon as the plane touched down, there’s just something about being in Texas that truly makes me happy. Shortly after we grabbed our luggage Lee & Isis were there to pick us up. It was absolutely amazing to see them again! Once we got back to their place we chatted for a bit but headed to bed relatively quickly since we had to get up bright and early Saturday.

Lee, two fine ladies whose names are escaping me, Isis (and her baby bump), me, and Ashley after the 5k.

On Saturday morning we got to the expo by 7am so that Ashley & I could pick up our packets. I was surprised by how big the expo was, it was big enough to feel like a “big race” but no so big that it was overwhelming. Ashley & I grabbed our 5k and half/marathon bibs, the special Cowtown Challenge bib and our t-shirts. Pretty soon it was time to stash our bags at the HoneyMilk booth and head to the start line for the 5k. This was a mistake – we should have headed to the start much sooner. I’ve never seen a crowd like this for a 5k! We ended up getting there in plenty of time, but were kind of stuck at the back of the pack. We tried to run for what I would guess was about ¾ of a mile but finally gave up because it was so crowded. We ended up saying screw it and just had fun while covering the remaining distance. It was awesome to be with Lee, Isis & Ashley and I cannot wait to see the photos – they’re sure to be hilarious!

See HoneyMilk makes people happy – we’re proof of that!

After the above photo was snapped, we headed back to the expo and poured some HoneyMilk for everyone to enjoy. We couldn’t stay behind the booth for too long because we had to get to the meet-up sponsored by HoneyMilk. The meet-up was at Magnolia’s Motor Lounge. None of us had been there before so we were excited to try it out. The food was excellent, as was the beer, and I heard the garage fries topped with country fried bacon were especially yummy. It was so great to see all of my Texas buddies again and to meet some for the first time. I wish I would have been smart enough to snap some photos of everyone!

Meet-up at Magnolia Motor Lounge

After the meet-up Ashley hung out with some family, Isis had to go to work. Lee was super productive and I took a nap. When I finally woke up Lee & I headed to the best place in the whole world, a/k/a Central Market, to pick up supplies for a fabulous dinner and then we were off to pick Isis up from work. She and I relaxed and caught up some more while Lee slaved in the kitchen. After dinner Ashley joined us again and another DFW buddy, Mike, came over. Lee & Isis were smart and went to bed early…Mike, Ashley & I stayed up watching some silly stuff on tv.

Alarms went off bright and early Sunday morning. Mike, Ashley & I got ready for the half, Lee got ready for the 50k and Isis got ready to be an awesome wife & friend (she wasn’t running but got up and drove us to the start!). The start was gain pretty crowded, but seemed like it moved a little more smoothly than the previous day. Ashley started off with her cousin and they quickly pulled in front of me. While I was in line for the porta potty Ashley called – at first I was worried about her but then she told me that her cousin sped off and she was going to hold up and wait for me. I told her I was moving slowly but she said she didn’t care.

Ashley & her medals representin’ Big River and HoneyMilk

Having Ashley by my side for the last 11ish miles of this race made the day for me. We chatted, laughed, took pictures with real-life cowboys and their horse and popped into a Starbucks to use a real bathroom. We weren’t moving fast, but we were having fun and for me, that’s what this race was all about – I needed to just have fun again. I cannot thank Ashley enough for sacrificing her race to stay with me.

The course was ok - we ran through some questionable neighborhoods, but we also got to run past the Stockyard, which was a highlight for me, and all around downtown Fort Worth. There were some killer hills (Hello mile 9!) but other than those I'd say it was a reasonably flat course. There wasn't a ton of course support, but I'd say that the police we some of the nicest I've ever seen on a race course. Oh, and this was the first race I've done that gave out finisher's shirt - that was a nice touch! All in all I'd probably give this race a 7 out of 10. Since it's in Fort Worth, there's a high likely hood that I'll be back in 2012.

HoneyMilk and Punk Rock Racing gear, plus two medals = a great day

So there you have it, half marathon #13 is in the books...next up is Rock 'n' Roll Dallas. See you soon, Texas!!!

The post I've been avoiding...

I've been meaning to write this post since I got back from Disney World, but I just haven't. It's no secret that my last couple of races were disappointing to say the least and now I'm battling an injury. I've talked to Ron, Mary, Isis and Lee about this, but I don't think I've mentioned it to anyone else. My 2011 goals have got to be adjusted. I need running to stay fun and failing race after race is anything but fun. I'm tired of being frustrated and I need to find the joy that running used to give me.

This means no El Scorcho 50k and no Chicago Marathon. 2011 will be the year of 13.1 or shorter race distances, with the exception of the El Schorcho 25k.

Right now I'm struggling to run 5 pain-free miles, so my focus is currently getting that under control, but once that's better I am going to be doing everything I can to run a better race. That means I am going to be committing myself to speed work, hill workouts, cross-training, and losing weight. I doubt it'll happen in 2011, but my ultimate goal is a sub-2 half marathon.

Yes, I'm still running a lot of races in 2011. No, I will NOT be racing all of them. I am currently planning on racing RnR Chicago, and probably 2 others but I need to look over course profiles before I decide which ones.

Right now I feel like the marathon has beaten me down. Chicago 2010 kind of broke my spirit and I'm not really sure how to get it back. That race made me question if I really have what it takes to be a marathoner. I'm hoping these changes will help me out, but only time will tell. If all goes well, I'll be running through the streets of Paris in April 2012!

Operation Jack Satellite Run

December 26, 2010 marks a big day in the journey of Sam Felsenfeld and Operation Jack.  Sam set out to run 61 marathons in 2010 to raise funds and awareness for Train 4 Autism.  This journey started on January 1, 2010 and will come to a close on December 26, 2010 when Sam runs his 61st, and final, marathon of the year in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Sam and his beautiful family, Tiffany, Ben, Jack, and Ava

As you may know, live in St. Louis, MO, and as much as I'd love to be in California on 12/26, I will be right here in the Lou.  I was pretty bummed about not being able to be a part of Sam's final race until Sam mentioned on Twitter that he decided to have a satellite run option for those of us not in Southern Cali. 


Here are the details (copied straight from Operation Jack's site):


If you can't make it to Southern California on December 26, you can still participate by going out for a 6.1-mile run wherever you are. We're aiming for participants in all 50 states, plus as many countries as possible.
It's one last chance to raise awareness and funds for Train 4 Autism in as many locations as possible.
Participants will receive a race medal and t-shirt.
Registration Fee: $25
Fundraising: Click here to create a fundraising page for this event. Raise just $30 to bypass the registration fee! Click "Join Our Team" to join the team and create a fundraising page.
Registration: If you'd rather register than fundraise, click here to register now! Your name will appear on the list below within 1-2 days.

Sam's Goal is to get at least one person from every state to participate in the satellite run, and while Maine may be kicking every one's collective heines, at least Missouri and Illinois (where I'm from) are throwing in respectable numbers.  While I bet we can get those numbers a little higher, here's what I'm really writing to request, there are TEN states that are not yet represented in the satellite run and I'd like that to change.  I'm talking to you Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming! 


I know I have had readers in every one of the states listed about, and while y'all may not be runners or walkers, I'm sure you know someone who knows someone who is! Please help spread the word. I'd really like to see the entire country back the efforts of Sam.


If you're in the St. Louis area and would like to meet up to run or walk these 6.1 miles, please let me know and I'll be happy to come up with a route for us!!

Run for the Ranch - A letter

The below is a letter that I have sent to everyone I can find that maybe able to influence the 2011 Run for the Ranch. I hope it does not fall on deaf ears.

I am writing regarding concerns with the Run for the Ranch Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k that was held on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University on December 19, 2010.

As a marathon runner, I have devoted hundreds of hours to training, choosing the races that I want to participate in, and planning out the logistics of race day. A marathon is something that requires one to spend time apart from family and friends while training. Racing is also a large financial investment, especially if traveling out of town for a race.  These are things that all runners accept. They joy of crossing that finish line makes every sacrifice worth it.

Runners understand that things can, and will, go wrong on race day.  Injuries can cut training short, bad weather can make race day miserable, illnesses can strike.  These are risks we are all aware of and accept.  Runners also expect that the races they choose to run will be safe.  We expect that the course will be clearly marked and well-lit, that, when possible, roads will be closed, that Course Marshalls will be monitoring the course, that aid stations will be manned until the official close of the race and that medical assistance will be available if needed.

Race Directors are only human and I cannot begin to comprehend the work that goes into putting on a wonderful race.  I have completed races of all sizes, from a 5k with twenty-five participants to the Chicago Marathon, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Race Directors responsible for putting these fabulous events together. 

Runners realize that Race Directors are only human and expect a few hiccups on race day, especially in smaller, less expensive races.  That is why I could forgive a lot of what occurred during Run for the Ranch. 

From the moment my friends and I stepped into the Student Center for registration/packet pick-up, everyone we encountered was curt, almost to the point of disrespectful, when speaking to us. Things were disorganized from the start. When a runner asked to see a course map, someone manning the registration table told him that there were none available and if he didn’t know the course by now a map wouldn’t help.  The course was boring. The roads that we were running on were not closed to traffic and runners were forced to use the sidewalks. The half marathon, 10k and 5k all used the same course as the marathon which caused a lot of congestion on the course. The aid station on the track closed almost three hours before the official close of the race. I was not offered food, water, or an electrolyte replacement drink after crossing the finish line. Runners had to wait in long lines for a food ticket and to receive their medals.  These are all things that a runner has the right to complain about, but they are things runners are willing to overlook.

The one thing that I cannot and will not over look is the lack of medical assistance at this race. While on the course, a friend on mine became ill and was extremely dehydrated. As she completed her seventh lap, she informed myself and another friend that she was dehydrated and would likely need medical attention after the race.  My friend and I immediately gathered our things and began trying to find help for her.  We spoke to every race official or volunteer we could find, including the Race Director. I was in disbelief to find that most of them did not even know if medical help was available. I was angry after the Race Director ignored our requests for help and continued to announce awards. I was furious when we were laughed at by a man in the timing van while he joked that we should call 911.

When our friend finished, she collapsed into my friends arms.  She couldn’t walk without assistance and she was slurring her speech.  Even at that point no one offered any assistance.  There were several race officials at the finish line and not one of them even offered to get a bottle of water and open it for her.  It’s scary to think about what could have happened to her if she had traveled alone to this race.
I can say, with absolute certainty, that it is irresponsible and negligent to stage a race without having medical assistance available.  I don’t believe I have ever participated in even a one mile race without seeing medics on site. Marathons are dangerous events – a lot of things can go wrong when covering 26.2 miles on foot. Unfortunately people do die while completing this distance.  What would have happened if a runner had collapsed on the course? There were no race officials anywhere to see if someone was in distress.

If calling 911 for emergency services was our only option, doesn’t it only seem reasonable that someone would offer their assistance? I understand that every member of a race crew has a job to do, but someone out on their course was in trouble.  Any number of people could have put their duties aside for a few moments to have helped us.  As stated before, not only did we not receive any assistance we were laughed at while trying to get our friend help.  I would venture to guess that she was not the only person on the course that could have used assistance. 

There are numerous things about this race that runners could have legitimate complaints about, however, the real problem with Run for the Ranch was that it was dangerous. Runners were dodging cars on the course, after the sun went down there were parts of the course that were poorly lit, there were no Course Marshalls to offer assistance while on the course, one of the two aid stations was closed early, and medical aid was denied by every single person we could find to seek help.  When you take everything else away, the real duty of a race director is to ensure the safety of his or her runners and he failed to do that.

In closing, I ask that you require a realistic plan for emergency medical staff for the 2011 Run for the Ranch. I think it would be reasonable to request that the Race Director step down or even request that this race is not held again, but I am not asking for those things to happen. I am only requesting that someone put some time and effort into thinking about the safety of the runners.

Thank you.
Jennifer Whitter Adams

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale...

In just a few short hours Ashley and I will be heading to Memphis for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon (and half)! 

This is probably my favorite my favorite race - there's nothing like running through the campus of St. Jude and seeing the patients cheering you on.

As much fun as I had at this race last year, I have a feeling that it won't even compare to the weekend I'm about to have.  You see, the real reason I'm so excited about tomorrow is that Ashley is running her first marathon!!  I got to be with a lot of friends who were running there first 26.2 in Chicago but I obviously didn't get the opportunity to see them finish and cheer them on.  This weekend will be totally different.  I'm running the half and Ash is running the full - that means I'll have plenty of time to run my race, get my medal, go to our hotel, change clothes, grab the sign I made and head to the course to find her. 

Ashley's friendship means the world to me and I am so honored and excited to be a part of her first marathon.  I can't wait to watch her cross that magic finish line and see her face as she realizes all of her hard work has paid off handsomely!   Every marathoner knows that nothing really compares to the feeling of crossing that finish line for the first time.  Being there for Ashley's finish is going to be pretty special for me. So thanks, Ashley, for letting me be a part of this weekend!

Ok, enough with the sappy shit....

Ashley - Feed the f*cking dog!!!



The sign I made for Ashley





And if you don't know the meaning of feed the f*cking dog, do yourself a favor and read this post from Ashley. It's something every runner should read!

2011 Race Calendar

I figured it's probably time for me to sit down and get my 2011 race calendar together. Of course all of this is subject to change (you know just in case I regain my sanity).

1. Texas Marathon (half); Kingwood, TX, January 1, 2011 - I cannot think of a better way to kick off 2011!! Done
2. The Goofy Challenge; Orlando, FL, January 8-9, 2011 - If you haven't heard of Goofy, here's what Disney has to say about it: Are you looking for the ultimate test of endurance? Then compete in Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge where you will run the Half Marathon on Saturday and then the Marathon on Sunday. If you finish both races in the time limit you will be awarded the coveted Goofy medal. Sounds like fun, huh :) Half - Done; Full - DNF
3. Cowtown 5k; Fort Worth, TX, February 26, 2011 - I decided to add on the 5k so that I can get the *special* Cowtown Challenge medal! Done
4. Cowtown Marathon I'll be doing the half. Done
5. Rock n Roll Dallas Half; Dallas TX, March 27, 2011 - This is the first of at least four Rock n Roll races in 2011. Again, I love Texas and had a blast running the inaugural RnR Dallas in 2010.
6. Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon; Springfield, IL, April 2, 2012 - I don't really know a lot about this race or the course, but I'm excited to run by all of the historic sites and earn the giant penny medal!
7. Go St. Louis 5k; St. Louis, MO, April 9, 2011 - A nice way to kick off the weekend!
8. Go St. Louis Marathon (Relay); St. Louis, MO, April 10, 2011 - This should be a fun one. I'm looking forward to my second relay (and I'm assuming this one will be much more organized than my first!).
9. Illinois Marathon (I-Challenge) - 5k and Half; Champaign, IL, April 29-30 - ∫ I decided to scratch OKC and Flying Pig for this year. The IL Marathon is close and cheap ($75 for both races). As an added bonus I'm gonna be hanging with 3 of my Ragnar girls, Jess, Courtney, and Becca. I've heard awesome things about the post race spread and who doesn't like earning 3 medals in one weekend?
10. Girls on the Run 5k; St. Louis, MO - May 15, 2011 - I first heard about GOTR last year. Alayna and I ran their 5k and it was so amazing to see all of the girls having a good time and learning to love running. Late last year I found out about an opportunity to join their Junior Board, and in November 2010, I attended my first meeting. I'm proud to be a part of this organization and am so looking forward to this race!
11. YMCA of Southwest Illinois 1st Annual Half Marathon; Maryville, IL, May 22, 2011 - If you're in the St. Louis area you should check out this race. The half marathon is only $24 and the other races being held that day are FREE!!!!
12. Red Dirt Run of Honor; Enid, OK, May 28, 2011 - Yet another race I'm stoked about. My friend Glenn is the RD for this race. I was supposed to be part of the inaugural race in 2010, but family commitments kept me in St. Louis that weekend. This year I promise to be there, I'm looking forward to the awesome medal - dog tags!!!
13. Ragnar Chicago; Madison, WI to Chicago, IL, June 10-11, 2011 - To say I'm excited about this race would be the understatement of the century. From Ragnar's site: Picture this: A relay race spanning 200 miles, starting in Madison hopping a state line and ending in Chicago. This adventure-fest will push you and 11 pals through 200 miles of stunning scenery. Starting in Madison, Wisconsin, your team will head south east towards the southern tip of Lake Michigan. The race (and your stamina) wraps up in the "Windy City" - Chicago. If you want to keep up with the other 11 crazies I'll be running with, you can follow them here.
14. El Scorcho 25k; Fort Worth, TX, July 16-17, 2011 - Yep, I'm headed back to Fort Worth again, this time to tackle my first (and probably last) ultra. What is El Scorcho you ask? Their website says El Scorcho is a ridiculously foolish endurance run that takes place at midnight in Fort Worth, Texas in the middle of the summer. Because we're so nice, we give you a choice--run 25 km or 50 km. That's 15.53499 miles or 31.06999 miles. We like to think of the two distances as La Scorchita and El Scorcho. But really, it's up to you. Both of them take a certain fortitude. Or stupidity. You make the call. Yep - 31.06999 miles in July in Texas at midnight!!!
15. Rock n Roll Chicago Half; Chicago, IL, August 14, 2011 - Heading back for a second time. It was a beautiful course and a fun finish line.
16. Disneyland Half Marathon; Anaheim, CA, September 4, 2011 - Here's where I confess that I've never been to California. Can you believe it? I can't. I've promised a bunch of people that I'd change that next year, so I decided to add this race to my calendar. And as an added bonus I'll earn Disney's Coast to Coast medal for participating in races at Disney World and Disneyland!
17. Warrior Dash Missouri; Old Monroe, MO, October, 15, 2011 - I did the Warrior Dash in Joliet last year, and it was fun but I had decided I wasn't going to drive 4 hours to run this again. Well, Warrior Dash added a less than an hour from St. Louis. I'm getting a big group of people from my office together for this one, so it should be a great time!
18. Go! St. Louis Halloween 10k; St. Louis, MO, October 16, 2011 - This might be my favorite local race! This year the course changed and it went through my 'hood and I was really glad I'm used to running the hills of Soulard. The fun costumes just add to the good time!
19. Rock n Roll St. Louis Half; St. Louis, MO, October 23, 2011 - Finally - St. Louis is getting a B.I.G. time marathon! I'm so excited about this race - a lot of my local friends have decided to make this their first race and a lot of my twitter/daily mile friends are coming to town for it! Ashley & I are determined to make it a kick ass weekend!!
20. Rock n Roll Savannah Half; Savannah GA, November 5, 2011 - My fourth Rock n Roll event of 2011. This time I'm meeting a huge group of Twitter girls and we're all renting a house for the weekend. P-A-R-T-Y-T-I-M-E!!!
21. St. Jude's Memphis Marathon (half); Memphis Tennessee, December 3, 2011 - This is one of my favorite races! I love Memphis and Memphis loves St. Jude's. I've never seen such amazing course support and nothing will ever compare to running through St. Jude's campus.

Updated as of Feb 7th

Thoughts on Boston

Let me start off by saying this - I will never be a Boston Qualifier. It's just not going to happen for me. If I ever get the chance to race Heartbreak Hill it will be because I have worked my ass off to raise money for a charity that is dear to me AND trained to run 26.2 miles.



Credit



Yesterday, for the first time in history, The Boston Marathon sold out less than 8 hours after registration opened.  This quick sell-out was expected and has caused quite the stir amongst runners.  I can only imagine the frustration of working your ass off to train to run a BQ (Boston Qualifying time) and not being able to register for Boston because the race sold out quickly.  I get the frustration, I really do but let's be honest, everyone in the running world knew a quick sell-out was a very real possibility.

There will be approximately 26,000 people lining up to run this prestigious race next April. About 1,350 of them will be charity runners.  These 1,350 spots are not the reason Boston filled quickly.

Boston filled quickly because marathoning is becoming increasingly popular.  More runners running marathons means more runners will run a BQ time and more BQ times mean more runners will be attempting to register for Boston. I also think part of the problem is that Boston organizers have been predicting a sell-out for sometime now. Sending emails about an expected quick sell-out creates a frenzy once registration opens.  This happens with a lot of races, not just Boston.  The 2010 Mountain Desert Island Marathon took place just the past Sunday and the 2011 race is already a near sell-out. 

What I've noticed since the sell-out of Boston is a lot of elitist attitudes coming out of the woodwork and that's what has really upset me.  I've seen a lot of people bashing charity runners and I've also seen a lot of people being pretty negative to those whom they feel don't have tough enough BQ times.  This really bothers me.  In my opinion, elitist attitudes have no place in running.



I'm a slow runner who has completed two marathons. Does that make me less worthy of running the same race as someone who happens to run a 3:20 marathon? I would argue the answer to that question is no. We are all runners - fast, slow, and somewhere in between - and I think we all deserve the respect of others.

I'm sure a lot of you have seen these Pearl Izumi ads and maybe you've poked around on Run Like An Animal.  These ads embody everything I hate about elitist runners.  Those that have been running for years and years are no better than that woman who is running to fit into her wedding dress.  My slow marathon times do not mean that I've haven't trained hard to be able to put one foot in front of another for 26.2 miles.  I have put countless hours into my training - the fact that the finish line clock starts with a different number than some when I finish shouldn't diminish my finish or my value as a runner.

There is a place in the running world for all runners, and like it or not, charity runners are here to stay. I've personally raised over $7,000 in less than a year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and St. Jude's through my hard work and the generosity of those around me.  Remember those 1,350 charity runners that will get to run Boston? In 2010 they raised over one MILLION dollars for their respective charities.  So instead of saying they don't belong in Boston, let's all pony up and help them surpass their fundraising goals!

And those elusive BAA jackets you see around expos? You can bet your ass I'll be wearing one around town if I ever get the honor of running Boston via a charity entry!

Chicago Marathon - Part 2 (The Race)

Once we left the hotel, we made our way to the open corral. Being at the starting line was surreal. I’ve never seen so many runners all in one place it was pretty amazing. Shortly after 7:30 we were moving towards the start line.  I think we finally crossed about 24-25 minutes after the gun went off.



I was still having fun!



For the first few miles I felt great. I was enjoying running through downtown and was pulling energy from the crowds. I heard someone say my name and was so happy that it was @BonnieGartley!! I can’t believe she found me in that see of people. At that point I was thinking that I might actually hit the goal time(s) I set for myself.  Somewhere in between miles 7-10 all of that changed.

By mile 10 I was feeling pretty awful. I knew my splits were off and that I was really slowing down. That’s a pretty shitty feeling when you know you still have 16+ miles to go. Then I started getting dizzy. I took a GU and ate a few Sport Beans. I’m pretty sure I was dehydrated. I looked at my phone and saw text messages from friends and family. Those messages were enough to pull me through for a little bit. Somewhere in those miles @MaddyHubba also found me on the course – and I was so happy to see her!

I remember texting Lauren (@LiloRuns) that I was miserable and that I was afraid of a DNF…I think this happened about mile 13. Jenna (@TinyJenna) was texting me, too, and I think I may have told Jenna the same thing. I pulled off the course at the next aid station, thinking that I was done, but right as I walked up to a volunteer a song that means the world to me (J.Simpson’s Remember That) came on my iPhone. Yeah, yeah, yeah…laugh all you want about the fact that a Jessica Simpson song kept me going, but it reminds me of what it was like to live in an abusive marriage, and more importantly it helps me remember the strength it took to leave. I asked the volunteer/RN for some aspirin/Tylenol/whatever they could give me and hopped right back on the course.

fake smile

Things got a little better for a few miles. I was able to fake a smile and wave for the course photographers. I remember sending a tweet that if I could smile and wave I could keep going, but my feet were killing me. I could feel the blisters on my toes, heels, and balls of my feet forming. Blisters are something I always deal with on long runs, but not like this. I’ve never felt pain like this. Then I realized that my shoes and socks were soaking wet thanks to the spray stations, open fire hydrants, and people with their hoses. Fabulous.

@PunkRockRunner (Ron) must have heard I was struggling because I started getting texts from him somewhere around mile 18 or 19. He kept pushing me. I had a feeling that he and Jenna were texting each other (this was later confirmed J). Lauren was texting me too. These three people were awesome, constantly telling me that they believed in me.

Sums up how I felt about the day

I later found out Lauren and Ron were updating the rest of Twitter about my day. Every time I looked at my phone I had a new text and the couple of times I checked Twitter I was moved to tears when I read everyone’s messages. I want to say it was about mile 22, or maybe it was even later, my phone rang and it was Ron. I’m pretty sure I was crying through most of the call and to be honest, I don’t really remember what we talked about, but I do know he told me that he believed in me and that he knew I would finish this race.  All I specifically remember is feeling more love in those last few miles than I’ve ever felt before.

Maddy & I - DONE

The end of the race was a total blur. I remember seeing the photographers in the finish chute but I couldn’t force a smile. I was spent and completely deflated.  I left everything I had out on the course.  A few moments before I crossed the finish line I noticed that MaddyHubba was right in front of me.

After finishing I didn’t stop for a beer, or ice, or anything else. I grabbed a bottle of water, two bottles of Gatorade and headed right back to the Hilton.

I’m not going to tell you my time. I’m sure a lot of you already know and if you don’t and want to look it up go for it. I’m over feeling sorry for myself.  To say Sunday wasn’t my day is a gross understatement. I’m not really sure what went wrong other than I found out first-hand just how mentally tough you have to be to be a runner. I let my mind play games with me and my mind almost won.

I also feel like I need to mention a couple of things that are indirectly related to this race.

I got some slack from people about texting and tweeting during a marathon. I get that it’s probably something that most people don’t agree with, however without Twitter, I am certain I would not have finished this race. The love and support I got from everyone on Sunday was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I didn’t want to let you all down.  I knew that I had a ton of people virtually cheering me on from all over the country, I didn’t want to have to come back and tell everyone that I’d given up so I kept moving forward. This race belongs to everyone who supported me along the way – I could not have done this alone.

Back in March a friend and I made plans to stay together for this race. I was very much looking forward to spending the weekend together and getting to meet even more of my Twitter friends.  Mid-September I received an email rescinding the offer to share a room because this person didn’t feel like I take running seriously enough. To say this left me in a bind kind of understates the situation. I couldn’t find a room anywhere near downtown that wasn’t extremely pricey and I was considering not making the trip. That’s when Lee and Isis stepped up and let me share their room – that’s what a friendship is and I think that’s the true spirit of a runner.  Runners all need to lift each other up, not demean one another. I felt the love of more runners than I could have ever imagined on Sunday and it meant the world to this non-serious runner. I can’t wait to have the chance to cheer you all on during your next race or tough training run. You all embody the spirit of a true runner.

Chicago Marathon Part 1 (pre-race)

I arrived in Chicago bright and early Friday morning, not by choice, but because the flights that left St. Louis at more reasonable times were all full by the time I booked my ticket. I immediately headed to the Hilton to drop off my stuff and hook up with Lee and Isis of @Running Couple.  We hung out for a bit and then headed to Jamba Juice to meet @TinyJenna and Tall Boy.  We all grabbed a yummy smoothie and then we were off to the expo.

We breezed through the registration line of the expo and got our packets in record time. Then we grabbed out shirts and started walking around the expo.  Eventually Lee and Isis headed to the Athlete’s Honey Milk booth to help out while Jenna, Tall Boy and I kept exploring the various booths.  I think this is the first time in my 30 years on this planet that I’ve walked around a huge room full of stuff available to buy without spending a dollar. I’ve got to be honest here, I was pretty disappointed in the expo and if I wasn’t enjoying hanging out with Jenna I would have scooted out of there pretty quickly. Seems like I’m in the minority thought, most of my friends thought it was a good expo. Wonder if this means I’m finally to the point of being over expos???

Friday evening we headed to the Pre-CM10 tweetup. There we met a ton of awesome twitter peeps…some that I’d been chatting with for over a year and some that were new to me.  After dinner, a few drinks and lots of laughs I was ready to call it a night.

I had originally planned to head back to the expo on Saturday, but after being less than impressed with it, I changed my mind and skipped that.  Instead I had a nice relaxing morning drinking coffee while laying in bed. Eventually I wondered down to the hotel lobby to meet up with @RunnrGrl, @BeMadThen (and her dad, Ben), @RunnerGrrl96 and her hubby Jason.  To say that we laughed our asses off would be an understatement.  I was borderline concerned that we were going to get ourselves kick out of the hotel! It was seriously the best coffee date ever. 

As our coffee date was winding down, Lee & Isis were on their way back from the expo. Mel, Jason, Isis, Lee and I left the hotel to find some lunch. I can’t remember the name of the place we ended up at, but it was just ok. The company was much better than the food J After lunch we split up and headed back to our respective hotels for some relaxation.

Instead of naps, we ended up having a mini-party in our room. RunnrGrl and Lisa ended up joining us. We all cuddled, laughed, cuddled some more, and then laughed a whole lot more. I’ve never had so much fun laying around in my jammies with 2 other ladies in my bed and a married couple in the bed next to me, haha!

Lee, Isis, and I went out for a nice early dinner Saturday night. I had a nice Caprice salad and a very light linguine in a red sauce – my idea of a perfect pre-race meal.  We got back to the hotel and got everything ready for race day. We all laid our clothes and called it an early night.

I was able to fall asleep very easily, but woke up about midnight and spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. I finally drifted back to sleep and then the 5am alarm went off. Normally a 5am wake up call the morning of a race means chaos will ensue, not this time. Since the Hilton was right at the start/finish lines we didn’t need to leave our room until 7. Lee, Isis and I all took our time eating breakfast, drinking coffee, showering, and getting ready. I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed the morning of a big race!

Next up....the Race